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Rick Kennerly wrote:
>
> Gee Ken. You feel warmly in the matter?
>
> Actually, I don't blame you much. The leadership of the SSCA has
> always been autocratic, high-handed and sanctimonious--it was often
> embarrassing to read between the lines of the President's message and
> divine what was really going on with the SSCA board. There must have
> been blood on the floor many times after a meeting.
>
> It is pretty clear that there is a vicious "cruisinger-than-thou"
> faction inside the SSCA that strives to continually raise the bar for
> Associates aspiring to be full Commodores. That puts the
> organization in the awkward position of being so amazingly successful
> at continually taking in more and more Associates and encouraging
> Associates to take up the cruising/liveaboard lifestyle that an
> unprecedented number of Associates are actually taking the plunge and
> becoming full-time cruiser, which increases the pressure to create
> more Commodores, which makes the status less exclusive, etc., et al.
>
> There is also the problem of relying more and more on the funding of
> their ever growing operations with Associate dues and on depending on
> Associate worker bees at functions while never allowing Associates
> any voice in the operations--even areas that have nothing to do with
> the Bulletin or Cruising.
>
> During all those years while Gayle and I were running SSCA Cruising
> Station Guam, we hosted a lot of SSCA cruisers passing through the
> Marianas. There is a decided difference between the folks out doing
> it and the crowd that hangs out around Ft. Lauderdale. It was
> because of the warmth, charm and generosity of the former that we
> stuck it out. Never got a word of support or thanks from the home
> office until we closed the station to return stateside.
>
> Rick - nh2f
> Xapic, Westsail 32
> Annapolis
> nh2f-abs.net
So Rick, whats the answer? I was an Associate for 4 years and got the
2nd hand treatment from Commadores I met along the way. I thought it was
just a few individuals, but if I hear you correctly, you're saying the
entire organization has a dual agenda?
Sorry to come in at "Chapter 3" - I'll watch my mail closer for
more on this.
Fair winds,
Bruce Lockwood
"SHADOWFAX"
36' Tung Hwa ketch
